NUHS, Ericsson and Singtel to showcase connected health at MWC26 Barcelona with companion robot nurse, 3D holographic surgical planning and next-generation home hospital technology
February 24, 2026, London: The GSMA today announced a strategic agreement between GSMA Foundry, the mobile industry's collaborative innovation hub, and the National University Health System Singapore (NUHS), a fully integrated academic and regional health system delivering innovative, sustainable and value-based healthcare in Singapore.
The new partnership is committed to transforming healthcare delivery by integrating advanced mobile technologies such as private 5G networks with digital twins, XR, IoT devices and ambient AI. The collaboration will initially focus on global collaboration and technical acceleration in areas such as 5G-enabled remote surgical assistance, XR training and simulation, robotic systems, and intelligent facility management.
Adjunct Associate Professor Gao Yujia, Chief Technology Officer of National University Health System (NUHS) Deputy Group, commented: “By leveraging advanced connectivity and innovative technologies such as ambient AI, XR and robotics, we are accelerating the development of truly smart hospitals. This integrated approach improves clinical workflows and allows care teams to work more efficiently and effectively. I am passionate about how AI and connected systems can transform hospital operations: elevating accuracy, improving the patient experience, and giving clinicians the tools they need to deliver better outcomes at every stage of care..”
Richard Cockle, Director of GSMA Foundry, said: “Connected health is one of the most impactful frontiers for mobile technology. Our agreement with NUHS demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate innovation, delivering safe, scalable solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. We are excited to start working on sites in Singapore and more early adoption centers will follow around the world..”
Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines and Brunei, shared: “Ericsson is proud to be a core facilitator of the connected health journey led in Singapore by NUHS. In partnership with Singtel, we have demonstrated how differentiated connectivity, based on high-performance 5G and combined with artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, has already delivered tangible patient and operational benefits in recent years. We are excited to see these efforts now showcased to a global audience, amplifying the impact of our work together. “This is a journey we are excited to continue: advancing safe, scalable healthcare solutions that extend care beyond hospitals to new contexts around the world.”
Keith Leong, Business Customer Director at Singtel Singapore, said: “Singtel's advanced standalone 5G network, secure virtual private networks and network slicing capabilities are specifically designed to support the most demanding healthcare environments, delivering the ultra-reliable, low-latency and secure connectivity needed for mission-critical applications. Working closely with NUHS, we have already demonstrated tangible results, from enabling remote surgical support and immersive XR training to powering smart robotics and home hospital models that improve patient experience and clinical efficiency. Through GSMA Foundry, we are “We are excited to scale these innovations and push the boundaries of connected health to accelerate the next wave of advancements toward 6G-enabled care.”
NUHS and GSMA Foundry at MWC26 Barcelona
At MWC26 Barcelona, NUHS will take pride of place in the GSMA Hall, Hall 4, where it will showcase the future of healthcare powered by AI and 5G, in collaboration with Ericsson and Singtel. Visitors to the GSMA Pavilion will have the opportunity to experience groundbreaking innovations including a robot nursing companion, 3D holographic surgical planning with Microsoft HoloLens 2, AI-powered augmented reality for accurate vein detection, and advanced home hospital technology that extends care beyond traditional hospital environments.
Dr. Gao will participate in several key sessions at the show, including the Digital Health Summit and the Global Health Connector Summit at 4YFN, sharing his expertise on leveraging connectivity and artificial intelligence to close gaps in healthcare delivery, drive digital transformation, and democratize the medical experience for communities around the world. These sessions will provide valuable insights into the practical applications and future potential of connected health solutions, further reinforcing NUHS' commitment to innovation and excellence in patient care.
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About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
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